Will “Soil and Water Conservationists” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

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Job Description

Plan or develop coordinated practices for soil erosion control, soil or water conservation, or sound land use.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 19-1031.01

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Soil and Water Conservationists”

Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.
Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies.
Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans.
Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans.
Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation.
Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members.
Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides.
Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities.
Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
Calculate or compare efficiencies associated with changing from low-precision irrigation technologies, such as furrow irrigation, to high-precision technologies, such as computer-controlled systems.
Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices.
Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions.
Survey property to mark locations or measurements, using surveying instruments.
Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques.
Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification.
Coordinate or implement technical, financial, or administrative assistance programs for local government units to ensure efficient program implementation or timely responses to requests for assistance.
Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations.
Provide access to programs or training to assist in completion of government groundwater protection plans.
Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data.
Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements.
Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information technical guides or engineering manuals.
Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources.
Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
Review grant applications or make funding recommendations.
Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes.
Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans.
Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations.
Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government.
Evaluate or recommend geographic information systems (GIS) applications to address issues such as surface water quality, groundwater quality, ecological risk assessments, air quality, or environmental contamination.
Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures.

Related Technology & Tools

Digital cameras
Desktop computers
Water samplers
Dumpy levels
Laser distance measurement systems
Dutch augers
Laptop computers
Personal computers
Theodolites
Total stations
Global positioning system GPS receivers

Autodesk AutoCAD
Clover Technology GALENA
State Soil Geographic STATSGO Database
GFA2D
Mitre Software GSLOPE
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
Landscape Management System LMS
Microsoft Access
Studio of Analytical Models STANMOD
CroPMan
Microsoft Word
U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA WinSRM
U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Vegetation Simulator FVS
Email software
Delft GeoSystems MStab
Interstudio Geo-Tec B
GEO-SLOPE SEEP/W
ESRI ArcGIS software
CropSyst Suite
ESRI ArcInfo
Datasurge GEOPRO
Water Soil and Hydro-Environmental Decision Support System WATERSHEDSS
Water resources databases
WinEPIC
ESRI ArcView
Microsoft Office
Salix Applied Earthcare Erosion Draw
HYDRUS-2D
Web browser software